How To Protect Your Hardwood Floors From Your Pet’s Nails
How do you protect your new hardwood floor from your pet's damaging nails? It’s happened to the best of us. After meticulous planning, budgeting, and execution, our brand-new hardwood floors fall victim to our dog’s nails. There’s nothing more frustrating than watching your home improvement project sustain more and more damage from your family’s pet.
Most of the time, preventing these dings and scratches can feel inevitable. After all, what can you do, section off your home from your pet? However, there are solutions to this frustrating problem. In this blog, we’ll share our secrets on how to protect your hardwood floors from your pet’s nails.
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Choose Your Hardwood With Your Dog In Mind
If you’re planning a renovation for your kitchen, you must pay extra close attention to your hardwood selection. Unfortunately, not all hardwoods are the same. Although some woods may look more comparable to the rustic-chic, farmhouse, or elegant aesthetic you’re striving for, these woods can also sustain more damage over time.
In fact, one of the most common mistakes homeowners make during a renovation is choosing cheaper types of hardwood for their floors.
Although paying more for a top-quality hardwood installation may eat into your budget, investing in robust flooring will keep your floors scratch-free for longer. With so many different types of wood to choose from, there are plenty of options that will fit your renovation vision.
Stick To Darker Stains
One of the most effective ways to prevent your dog’s long nails from damaging your new hardwood floors is to choose a darker stain color. Although your hardwood color will not actively prevent scratches and marks, the darker shade will hide these spots more effectively.
Whereas light stains easily showcase marking and scratching stains, darker hardwoods will prevent these imperfections from affecting the look of your floors. If you’re a busy parent or constantly on the go, this may be an ideal option for you.
Use Multiple Finishing Coats To Hold Up Against Your Pet's Nails
The finishing you choose for your hardwood floors will have a significant effect on how well your floors will hold up against your dog’s nails. Certain laminates and finishes are stronger than others; however, for the most part, you’ll ultimately need multiple coats to protect your floors from your pet.
Multiple layers of finishes will create a barrier between the edges of your pet’s nails and your new flooring. As a result, your dog will only damage the plastic surface of your flooring without causing any real damage to the wood underneath. In addition, fixing scratches in your floor’s
Invest in Area Rugs
When you’re busy with your everyday schedule, sometimes you don’t have the time or energy to design your home renovation around your dog’s nails. If you’re looking for a quick, simple, and low maintenance fix to this problem, consider investing in some new chic area rugs. These rugs will add a layer of protection between your floors and your pet’s nails and add warmth to your home décor.
When you’re unsure how to protect your hardwood floors from your pet’s nails, ask yourself how much you’re willing to invest in your hardwood floor renovation and consider what measures you’re willing to take to keep your floors in pristine condition. Once you have a better idea of how you want to maintain your floors, you’ll have a more peaceful coexisting home with your dog.
